Hearing about Kanye’s self-indulgent behavior to an audience of patrons who forked over $200 per ticket and then hearing that he cancelled the rest of his tour really ruffled my arugula. It is a dick thing to do! Not just for the fans but what about the road crew, the promoters, the sound engineers and all the other professionals that make his production a success and were counting on his performance? Ugh! The lack of respect for his audience and the people who support his artistic endeavors is mind boggling. On my end this is only amplified by the fact that I am on file 9 of Amanda Palmer’s audiobook “The Art of Asking” where she goes out of her way to connect with her audience even if it means persevering through performance while she is sick. (slowly becoming a fan hers)
Although Kanye was initially admitted for ‘exhaustion’, today’s news told us that he was actually admitted for assaulting staff at a gym and then went on to assault a nurse at the hospital to which he was admitted. This begs the question: What kind of fans would follow an artist who treats people like they are an afterthought rather than showing gratitude that they still support the performer, especially around the time of the aptly named holiday of Thanksgiving. Or perhaps it’s an age thing where I believe all the talent in the world will never make up for a celebrity behaving like a complete douche.
Yesterday evening I was ready to rant on this news item when I realized that I would require some sustenance as my late lunch of Mexican food was wearing off last night. Considering that I still had a leftover coupon I decided to go to the recently opened Teriyaki Madness which is within a reasonable proximity from where I get gas. Now at this point I need to provide a back story from 10 days ago. The leftover coupon was one I had received after my initial visit to be used on my second visit. However when I called in my order the second time around I let them know that I had a coupon for a free egg roll. In my haste I left the coupon at home and had to cancel the order when I arrived at the restaurant who’s supervisor claimed they had none left. No problem, my bad. I paid for my order and left. When I got home I looked inside the bag to see that along with the food there was a coupon. Although in may have been a buck or two there is no worse feeling than getting punked by a business. (end of backstory)
So last night being my third time in the restaurant I go in and order my food with coupon in hand and present it to the cashier. Being absent minded she rings up for the original menu price. I hold up the coupon, the cashier apologizes and rings me up for the coupon price. Perturbed feelings set in I am planning on what my yelp review will say and whether or not I will give it two or three stars. I am someone who is patient with absent-mindedness but the memory of the SNAFU that occurred on my initial visit is still stinging. It was it this point I realized “Holy Crap! I am behaving like one of Kanye’s fans!”
The key word is: Value. For what it’s worth Teriyaki Madness does a fine fried rice (Yakisoba is pictured above because I had a coupon for it) and it is close to where I run the majority of my errands. Is it my favorite? No but its close quality at a reasonable price. Yet all the annoyances give it a black eye worthy of a “needs improvement” review on yelp for what I would regard as stupid, administrative shit. Otherwise it’s inherently valuable to my opportunity costs of time, money and desired appetite.
Is this what I am missing with Kanye? I mean is there a stroke of musical genius that makes up for all his antics in the press or is he simply a celebrity with no artistic merit who performs? A step above a Paris Hilton, if you will? With that perspective in mind the value of celebrity vs artist is an argument that will invariably be one that grows considering that we are well into the age of Vine stars, YouTube personalities and Instagram models.
Whatever the reason, I am glad I was able to better understand the parallel of Kanye West’s disappointing his fans to my disappointment of a local food chain. Rather than conclude this blog with a sanctimonious, vitriolic curmudgeon that seems rampant in social media, I would like to conclude with the value of a pupil being taught perseverance. I believe it’s something both Kanye and I should be reminded.
From one man to another, from one human being to another: Get Well, Kanye! Can I get you an egg roll?
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